Recoil apparatus for guns.



No. 897,821. PATBNTBD SEPT. 1, 1908.

A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUGKHAM.- y

REGQIL APPARATUS FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 19074.

2 sHnETsA-SHBBT 1.

2 HEBTs-SBBT 2.

PATENTED SEPT.A l, 1908.

APPLIUATIUN FILED NOV. 14, 1907.

Al T. DAWSON a G. T. BUGKHAM. RECOIL APPARATUS POR GUNS.

1N: NoRRls PETERS Co., WASHINGYD n run sra'rns refrnnfr @muon ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUOKHAM, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO VICKERS SONS & MAXIM LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

RECOIL APPARATUS FOR GUNS.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Original application led September 27, 1906, Serial No. 336,423. Divided and this application led November 14, 1907. Serial No. 402,148.

Y To all whom it may concern:

certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Recoil Apparatus for Guns, of Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to recoil apparatus for guns and has reference to the class of such apparatus in which the recoil buffer cylinder is surrounded by the return spring casing and in which a three-part buiferr piston is employed, the said piston having one part fixed to the piston rod, one part capable of angular displacement by the recoil and return movements of the buffer cylinder and another part adapted to slide longitudinally on the said rod against the resistance of a s ring. The said piston is connected with t e front end of the return spring casing and the rear end of the buffer cylinder is connected with the gun cradle by meansof a sleeve nut.

In three-part pistons as hitherto proosed, the angularly displaceable part has ideen located remote from the sliding part, with the result that when said sliding part assumes its closed position relatively to the ports in the fixed part, which it does during the return movement of the gun after recoiling, the liquid in the buifer cylinder flows through the ports of the piston with a practically constant volume.

It is an important feature of our invention that the aforesaid angularly displaceable part of the piston occu ies a position close to the sliding part, the iiied part being situated remote from the sliding part. By thus arranging the parts the assage of the liquid past the piston during the return movement ofthe gun, can be so regulated that at the first part of the return movement, the maximum quantity of liquid will pass the piston,

this quantity being gradually diminished during the advance of the gun, by the movement of the angularly displaceable part, thereby permitting the return of the un without shock. We are of course awaret at it has before been proposed to employ a three-part piston comprising two sliding portions and an intervening rotary portion so arranged that by imparting angular motion to the piston rod by the change in elevation of the gun the said sliding portions carried by the piston rod may be caused to regulate the recoil and the advance of the gun to the firing position after recoil by the relative angular movement between the said sliding portions and the rotary portion. In our arrangement however we do not impart any angular movement to our sliding portion nor to the piston rod on which it slides.

In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the recoil buer and return spring. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross section on a larger scale taken on the line ldl and Fig. 4 is a sectional end view as seen from the right of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 2 and showing the buffer piston in plan. Eig. 6 is a vertical section of the said buffer piston showing the position of the sliding part during the recoil of the gun. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the position of the sliding part, as the gun runs home. Figs. 8 to 12 are diagrams showing the position the ports of the three-part piston assumeduring the recoil and return movements of the gun.

G is the buffer and return spring casing; g1 g2 g3 are the three-part piston g is the piston rod connected at its forward end to the ca g4.

G1 G1 are the return springs surroun ing the buffer cylinder G2.

G3 is the sleeve nut which is secured to the cross head b of the gun cradle B by means of an interrupted screw and prevented from turning by a spring pin gx.

The piston consists of the three parts, g1, g2, g3, one (g1) fixed to or formed solid with the piston rod, one (g2) free to turn angularly on the rod, and one (g3) free to move longitudinally against the resistance of a spiral spring g11 on the rod and disposed Within the sleeve 910 of the slide portion, which spring tends to return said movable part to its initial position after displacement. Each of said portions has ports go in its circumference, and. the angularly movable art g2 has a projection which fits into a rifle groove g12 which is formed in the cylinder. When the gun is in the firing position, the ports in the fixed parts g1 and angularly movable part g2 coincide, butare almost closed by the sliding part g3 as shown by Fig. 8. At the commencement of the recoil of the gun and cradie, the liquid passes through the ports in the iixed and angularly movable parts, and` forces back the sliding part as shown at Fig. 9 with the result that the ports are all fully o en s o that a passage sufliciently large for tie ready 'flow of the liquid from front to rear of the piston is obtained. During the recoil the angularly movable part g2 is moved by the aforesaid rifled groove and gradually but not quite closes the passage through the ports in the parts g1 g2 by setting these ports out of coincidence as shown by Fig. 10. The buffer-piston is thus caused to exert resistance to the recoil movement, such resistance varying with the stability of the carriage. At the commencement of the return motion of the gun and cradle after recoil, the sliding part g3 of the piston is forced by its spring against the angularly movable part g2, and the flow of the liquid through the port in the part g1 then takes place in the reverse direction to that above stated, one of the ports in the sliding part g3 being at this time fully open to the ort in the angularly movable part g2 which atter port is only slightly o en to the port in the part g1 (see Fig. 11) t us the flow of the liquid is at the minimum at this time. As the return movement continues however the angularly movable part g2 under the influence of the said groove g12 moves in a direction to cause a gradual opening of the ports to the maximum (Fig. 12)

followed by a gradual cut off due to the clos;

ing of the ports in the parts g2 g3, thus ermitting the return of the gun to take place without shock as the parts of the piston resume the position shown by Fig. 8. The said sliding part of the piston may have extra openings to facilitate the flow of the liquid past it if found desirable.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letl ters Patent of the United States is 2- l'. In recoil apparatus for guns the combination with a recoil buffer cylinder of a piston rod carrying a piston comprising a part -lixed to the piston rod, another part ada ted to slide longitudinally thereon, and a tiird part capable of angular displacement said third part being situated between the Jfixed and sliding arts, the three parts comprising the piston eing provided with ports, substantially as set forth.

2. In recoil apparatus for guns the combination with a recoil buffer cylinder of a piston rod carrying a piston comprising a part fixed to the piston rod, another part adapted to slide longitudinallyl thereon, and a third part capable of angular displacement, said of angular displacement upon the piston rod,

the three parts comprising the piston being provided with ports, substantially as set forth.

4. vIn recoil apparatus for guns the combination with a recoil buffer cylinder of a piston rod, and a piston carried by the rod and comprising a part fixed to the rod, another part adapted-to move longitudinally thereon,

means for returning the said part to its initial position and a third part situated between the fixed and sliding parts and capable of angular displacement upon the piston rod, the three parts comprising the piston being provided with ports in their peripheries, substantially as set forth.

5. In recoil apparatus for guns the combination with a recoil buffer cylinder of a piston rod, a piston carried by the rod said piston comprising a part fixed to the rod, an-

other part adapted to slide longitudinally thereon, a sleeve on said sliding part, a helical spring arranged in said sleeve, and a third part capable of angular displacement said thirdpart being situated between the fixed and sliding parts the three parts comprising the piston being provided with ports, substantially as set forth.

6. In recoil apparatus for guns the combination with a recoil buffer cylinder of a piston rod, a piston carried by the rod said piston comprising a part fixed to the rod, another part adapted to slide longitudinally thereon, a sleeve on said sliding part, a helical s ring arranged in the said sleeve, and a thir part capable of angular displacement said third part being situated between the Jfixed and sliding parts the three parts comprising the piston being provided with ports in their peripheries substantially as set forth.

7. In recoil apparatus for guns the combination with a recoil buffer cylinder formed with a rifled groove in its inner face, of a piston rod, a piston carried by the rod said piston comprising a part fixed to the rod, an-

other part adapted to slide longitudinally of the cylinder, the three parts comprising the piston being provided with ports substantially as set forth.

S. In a recoil apparatus for guns the combination with a recoil buffer cylinder formed with a rifled groove in its inner face, of a piston rod, a piston carried by the rod said piston comprising a part fixed to the rod, another part adapted to slide longitudinally thereon and means for returning the said sliding part to its initial position, a third part situated between the fixed and sliding parts and capable of angular displacement, and a projection on the third part adapted to engage with the ried groove in the inner face 15 set our hands in presence of two subscribing 20 witnesses this fourth day'of November 1907. ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON.

GEORGE THOMAS BUOKHAM. Witnesses:

HENRY KING, ALFRED PEAKs. 

